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CSAT Book For UPSC: Mastering CSAT with Complete Booklist and Strategy

Master CSAT with our recommended CSAT Book for UPSC. Strengthen quantitative, reasoning, and English skills with top picks like R.S. Aggarwal and Norman Lewis. Follow our strategic tips for exam success.

CSAT Book for UPSC: Your Guide to Administrative Excellence

Every year, the Union Public Service Commission conducts the Civil Services Exam for All India Services and various other Group A services of the Indian Government. These services predominantly entail administrative roles. Aspiring candidates aiming to enter these services must successfully navigate a year-long examination, consisting of the Preliminary exam, Mains exam, and Personality Test.  

Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT): Qualifying Skills for UPSC Success

UPSC conducts Civil Services exam every year in this exam the prelims stage consists of two papers i.e Paper I and Paper II, paper II is referred as CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). It aims to evaluate candidates for their comprehension, interpersonal skills, communication, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, basic numeracy, and English language comprehension skills. It is of qualifying nature marks scored in this paper will not be considered for evaluation.

Structure of CSAT Exam

CSAT Book for UPSC: Essential Booklist and Strategies

To prepare for an exam like the Civil Services Aptitude Test,  it is very essential to stick to the syllabus and correct study material to master the CSAT exam. So we are going to share a complete booklist for Civil Services Aptitude Test. 

Preparation Strategy of CSAT: Strategic Tips for Qualifying Marks

Although the Civil Services Aptitude Test  is of qualifying nature, the focus of candidates should be on securing the minimum qualifying marks. Allocating  sufficient time for both Paper-I (General Studies) and Paper-II (CSAT) during your preparation will be more wise. Adopt a proper strategy and adjust your study plan based on your strengths and weaknesses, and continuously evaluate and adapt your strategy as needed. Still we are providing some tips and suggestions to approach the CSAT Paper.

• Understand the Syllabus- Before getting into the sea of preparation for Civil Services Aptitude Test candidates should familiarize with the CSAT syllabus provided by the UPSC. Understanding and analyzing the different sections like comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, basic numeracy, and English language comprehension skills.
• Going through the Previous Years’ Papers- Reviewing and analysing the previous years paper of CSAT can provide insights into the type of questions asked, which section is being asked the most and the difficulty level. Identify recurring patterns and focus on strengthening weak areas.
• Build a Strong Foundation- To tackle the basic numeracy, mathematics, and data interpretation section of CSAT, candidates should practice regularly to enhance your quantitative and analytical skills.
• Improve English Language Skills- Work on improving your English language comprehension and communication skills. Read newspapers, articles, and CSAT Book for UPSC regularly to enhance your vocabulary and comprehension abilities.
• Time Management- CSAT is a time-bound exam. Practice solving questions within the stipulated time to improve your time management skills. Develop a strategy to allocate time to different sections based on your strengths and weaknesses.
• Focus on Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability- Candidates should practice logical reasoning and analytical ability questions regularly and allocate proper time to solve puzzles, practice mathematical problems, and work on developing a systematic approach to problem-solving.
• Focus on Decision-Making and Problem-Solving- Focus on decision-making and problem-solving skills. Analyze different scenarios, understand the implications of choices, and practice making decisions under time constraints.
• Mock Tests Analysis- To check the preparation of Civil Services Aptitude Test candidates should enroll in a mock test series and take tests regularly and practice papers to simulate exam conditions. This helps in improving your speed, accuracy, and overall performance. Analyze your performance after each test to identify areas for improvement.
• Revision at regular intervals – Regular revision of all concepts and formula food CSAT is essential to retain information and reinforce concepts. Create a revision schedule to review topics periodically, especially those that you find challenging.
• Seek Guidance if Needed- If you find certain topics challenging, consider seeking guidance from teachers, mentors, or online resources. Joining a coaching institute or participating in online courses can provide structured guidance.
• Stay Healthy and Positive- Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including adequate sleep and regular exercise. A positive mindset and stress management are crucial during the preparation phase.

CSAT Book For UPSC FAQs

Do marks in csat count, is the csat paper compulsory for upsc, where can i buy the best csat book for upsc, is it necessary to refer to multiple sources or is one comprehensive book sufficient for csat preparation, can coaching institute study materials be used alongside the standard csat book for upsc.

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Comprehension, Decision Making & Problem Solving Compendium for UPSC IAS Prelims CSAT Paper 2 & State PSC Exams 3rd Edition Paperback

• Part of series English Edition NCERT based Compendium Series for IAS Prelims (Papers 1 & 2) & Mains
• Language English
• Publisher TOOBOSS
• Dimensions 7.99 x 10 x 1.85 inches
• ISBN-10 9355641052
• ISBN-13 978-9355641052
• See all details

Product details

• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9355641052
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9355641052
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.7 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.99 x 10 x 1.85 inches

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How to know the amount of time needed for preparation?

Which skill areas to work on.

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal Skills & Logical, Analytical Reasoning
• Decision-making
• General Mental Ability & Data Interpretation

Basic Numeracy

Understanding that the pattern has changed now with CSAT being only a qualifying paper, we have written an article on how CSAT still remains relevant to your preparation  – expected changes in difficulty level of the paper? We expect the difficulty level to go up this year. Scoring even qualifying marks can be an issue for a lot of aspirants.

Also, even though the strategy below applies to the old format (before CSP 2015) of the Prelims examination, we are not removing it. Because, the expert committee constituted by the government for examining the pattern of the Civil Services Examination, can rule in favour of reverting to the old format. 

If you are weak in a particular area of CSAT, the strategy will surely help you.

Do this exercise whenever you have decided to prepare for Paper-2. This period should ideally be at least 3-4 months before the exam.

Take up a UPSC CSAT previous year paper (any one of 2011-2014); close your room; and without any disturbance sit for 2 hours and find out how much you can score without practice.

Now, sit and analyze your shortcomings in those specific areas where you may not have scored well. 

• If you are scoring less than 100 , phewww!!! There is a lot of work to be done. Start practicing daily for 2-3 hours for the coming 5-6 months and even more infact.
• If your score is somewhere around 100-130 , then you are weak in some particular areas for e.g. comprehension or basic numeracy OR your speed may be less than required. Know those areas, and work on them on a daily basis for the coming months for getting conceptual clarity and speed.
• If score is around 130-150 , you may be weak in any one of the areas or your speed of solving paper may be slow. Whatever it is, you need some practice for lets say something close to 2-3 months .
• If its around 150-170 , you may either be slightly weak in any one area; or you may be making a lot of silly mistakes. It can be slow speed too. Whatever it is, you do not need months of practice. If you can spend 1 month or a little more, with 2-3 hours of practice every day; and you are there.
• If you have scored around 170-190 , know that you need not study for paper-2. Just 15-20 days before the exam, start solving mocks so that you can increase your speed; improve your accuracy and work out few areas where you may be making 3-4 mistakes regularly.
• If it is more than 190 , Dude stop wasting your time reading this and prepare Paper-1!!!  😉

It ideally depends on your educational and professional background. This is not to say that only those with a specific background can score high in Paper-2; it is just that we all have been in touch with a certain skill set for a long period of time – which becomes our forte and need to work on the gaps.

For e.g. relatively speaking, engineers are more in touch with Mathematics (equations, calculations etc.) and Data interpretation than a Political Science graduate. Similarly, humanities graduates are more in touch with comprehension skills – reading large amounts of text, verbal reasoning; communication skills etc.

Therefore, no matter what background you are from, you will have an edge on a certain skill area; and at the same time, you will need to work on other skill areas. So, engineers will need to work more on comprehension and interpersonal skills; and a political science graduate will have to work more on Mathematics and Data interpretation.

The UPSC CSAT paper is of Easy to Moderate level. The questions can be solved easily with common sense, basic logic and language skills. But what people generally lack is –

• Enough Practice

Practice is the key here – which brings both speed and accuracy (amount of practice that you need is mentioned in the section on – what is the right time and energy? ).

Then you need to pick the right book. Here we are mentioning the sections of CSAT exam with some good books which will give you clarity on the topic; and contain enough questions for practice.

• GS Manual Paper-II by TMH
• Concise CSAT by Madhukar Bhagat – TMH Publications
• Cracking the CSAT Paper 2 – Arihant Publications
• Word Power – Normal Lewis

Section-wise Basic strategy

Comprehension – Use the book Concise CSAT by Madhukar Bhagat – TMH Publications.

To sharpen and improve your comprehension skills, the first thing that you need to do is to ‘read a lot’. Read the same editorials, magazines, articles, columns etc. with more attention. Do not be in a hurry to finish them – take time, otherwise you will lose time and yet not get the correct comprehension.

Work on your vocabulary by referring to pocket dictionary (can be on mobile too ); read the book Word power by Norman Lewis (it is very good for building vocabulary)

Spend time with passages in the TMH book to see in which kind of options you are making mistake. Learn the art of ‘objective reading’.

Solve 20-30 previous year CAT passages too. Solving tough passages will give you additional insights into comprehension abilities; and it becomes easy then to handle relatively easier CSAT passages. As the saying goes, tame an elephant, and a monkey becomes easy .

Refer to the Detailed Strategy section to understand more about the above and scoring high in comprehension.

In the long run try to learn 10 new words a day. These words can be the ones which puzzle you while you go through the Hindu, Economic times,Frontline et al or you can directly pick them from the standard books.

Interpersonal skills including communication skills; Logical reasoning and analytical ability:

You will face questions like the one from CSAT 2014 (we are giving only one here – refer to the detailed strategy for a comprehensive guide on this section)

Given the statement:

“Buses are the cause of more accidents than cars, and trucks cause fewer accidents than buses”, which of the following conclusions can we draw?

(a) There are more buses on the road than trucks.

(b) Car drivers are more careful than bus drivers.

(c) Truck drivers are more skilled than either car or bus drivers.

(d) None of the above 

Answer: (d)

You need not apply too much thought. Just the skill of ‘objective reasoning’ is needed. Unless and until something , the questions in this section are pretty basic in nature.

With some practice from the book GS Manual for Paper 2 – TMH, it is easy to crack. The book covers questions 2 notches above UPSC level. Do not ignore these relatively harder questions. Practicing them makes the actual CSAT exam very easy.

Decision-making and problem-solving:

Use the book Concise CSAT by Madhukar Bhagat or GS Manual TMH .

Solve 40-50 questions to get an idea as to what UPSC demands from you.

Take a choice based on both Ethics and Prudence.

Being blind ethically will cost you marks as we have seen in the past.

For example :

Questions will be like (this is from CSAT 2014):

While travelling in a Delhi-registered commercial taxi from Delhi to an adjacent city (another state), your taxi driver informs you that he has no permit for driving in that city, he will stop at its transport office, pay the prescribed fees of Rs. 40 a day. While paying the fees at the counter, you find that the transport clerk is charging extra Rs. 50 for which no receipt is being given. You are in a hurry for your meeting. In such circumstances, what will you do?

• Go up to the counter and ask the clerk to give back the money which he has illegally taken.
• Do not interfere at all as this is a matter between the taxi driver and the tax authorities. 
• Take note of the incident and subsequently report the matter to the concerned authorities.
• Treat it as a normal affair and simply forget about it.

It is a situational dilemma. If you act ethically with pragmatism, your answers will be correct. You can choose either (1) or (3).

General mental ability; Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level):

Refer to the syllabus to know the sub-categories of the topics here. For these refer to GS Manual by TMH – covers the topics comprehensively. Instructions are given at the beginning of each exercise to make you understand. First understand the concept and then the techniques of each kind of sub-category (Let us say blood relations, set theory etc.).

A sample question (CSAT 2014):

Practice is the key here. The more patterns and types you would have practiced, the easier it gets in the exam hall. You will be able to quickly identify the right technique for solving each pattern.

Data Interpretation will be very basic in nature. A sample question (from CSAT 2013):

You need not practice Data Interpretation a lot. Just glance through a few examples. Understand all the types of DIs. Solve 30-40 DI passages. This much practice is sufficient.

As we have already stated in the “Syllabus & Exam Pattern”, this section does not carry a lot of weightage (7-10% questions). For this section, refer to the Cracking CSAT- Arihant Publications or GS Manual TMH. Any one will do. See the kind of questions UPSC has asked over the years and practice accordingly considering the difficulty level. We will be giving you a gist of the Basic Numeracy questions solved from all the years (2011-14).

A group of 630 children is seated in a row for group photo session. Each row contains three children less than the row in front of it. Which one of the following number of rows is not possible?

Solution: d)

It is a question based on sequence and series. You can even apply common logic to solve the question. Even in basic numeracy, there are several sub-categories (as mentioned in the “Syllabus & Exam pattern section” ), make sure you practice several questions from each type for e.g. time & work; clock; ratio and proportions etc.

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Problem Solving - UPSC Prelims Paper 2 CSAT - Quant, Verbal & Decision Making - UPSC - Notes, Videos, & Tests

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• Is 1 year enough for IAS preparation? Yes, 1 year is sufficient for IAS preparation without coaching. If you do focus on study then you can clear this exam in your first attempt. Preparing for UPSC itself is a full-time job, during preparation you need to work hard daily at least 6-8 hours
• Does 12th Marks matter in UPSC? No class 12 marks don't matter for SSC and UPSC. The eligibility for civil services is that you should hold a Bachelor's degree from any recognized institution in respective subjects.
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• Solve Decision Making Questions In UPSC Csat Paper

How to Solve Decision Making Questions in UPSC CSAT Paper

The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) or the General Studies Paper-II is one of the two papers of the UPSC civil services prelims exam. It is only a qualifying paper in which you have to score a minimum of 33%. As per the CSAT Syllabus, decision making is one of the four important segments. Know how to solve decision making questions in UPSC CSAT paper.

Decision-Making for UPSC CSAT

Even then, a lot of IAS aspirants fear this paper especially if they are from a non-maths or non-science/engineering academic background. Although out of a total of 200 marks you only have to score at least 66, when you consider the fact that you will be penalized with negative marks for wrong answers, it can be safely said that proper planned preparation is needed even for the CSAT paper.

The CSAT generally consists of four types of questions:

• Logical reasoning
• Comprehension
• Decision making

Information about decision making questions:

• As a civil servant, you are expected to make quick and rational decisions that benefit the maximum. You should not buckle under political pressure and should discharge your duty fearlessly and honestly. The decision making questions test the same qualities. They put you in certain situations and ask you to solve a problem.
• Preparing for the decision making questions would also keep you in good stead for the General Studies Paper IV (ethics paper) in the UPSC civil services mains exam.
• These questions assess your abilities as an administrator.
• There is no negative marking for decision making questions.
• The official answer key gives two possible correct answers to these questions.

Decision making questions and answers for UPSC

Take a look at the following decision making questions from UPSC Prelims exam 2012:

Q) You are handling a time-bound project. During the project review meeting, you find that the project is likely to get delayed due to lack of cooperation of the team members. You would…

(a) Warn the team members for their non-cooperation.

(b) Look into reasons for non-cooperation.

(c) Ask for the replacement of team members.

(d) Ask for an extension of time citing reasons.

Answer: (b)

Q) You are competing with your batch-mate for the prestigious award to be decided based on an oral presentation. You have been asked by the committee to finish on time. Your friend, however, is allowed more than the stipulated time period.

a) Lodge a complaint to chairperson against the discrimination.

b) Not listen to any justification from the committee

c) Ask for withdrawal of your name

d) Protest and leave the place

Answer: (a)

The next question is taken from the 2013 UPSC Prelims CSAT GS paper II:

Q) You are handling a priority project and have been meeting all the deadlines and are therefore planning your leave during the project. Your immediate boss does not grant your leave citing the urgency of the project. You would…

1) Proceed on leave without waiting for the sanction.

2) Pretend to be sick and take leave.

3) Approach higher authority to reconsider the leave application.

4) Tell the boss that it is not justified.

Answer: (3)

Strategy to solve decision making questions for UPSC exam:

• Decision-making problems can be solved by a five-step approach:-
• Find the issue in the question
• Find the possible solutions
• Exclude the bad solutions
• Choose the best solution
• Take the final choice
• Eliminate choices that involve giving/taking bribes, showing arrogance, dishonesty, getting intimidated, ignoring wrong-doings, insubordination, biasness, impractical choices, short-term oriented, etc.
• Always choose answers which portray you as upright, honest, practical, humane, efficient, taking action-type of an officer, etc.
• Since there are two possible answers to these questions, you just need to figure out the two worst choices and pick any one of the two remaining choices.

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Product Description

Comprehension, Decision Making & Problem Solving Compendium for IAS Prelims General Studies Paper 2 & State PSC Exams is the 2nd of the 3 books for Paper 2.

• It is an exhaustive work capturing all the important topics being asked in the last few years of the IAS Prelim exam. The book has separate units for Comprehension and English Language Comprehension.

• English Language RC passage covers all literary styles.

• Exhaustive exercise of situation-based questions to test decision making and administrative course of action.

• Vast variety of situation-based questions to test Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills.

• The book is divided into chapters which contains detailed theory explaining all concepts with proper examples along with Practice Exercise.

• The Exercise covers the fully solved past CSAT questions from 2011 onwards.

In all the book contains 5 Chapters & 1500+ MCQs (Past + Previous) with detailed solutions.

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Comprehension, Decision Making & Problem Solving Compendium for UPSC IAS Prelims CSAT Paper 2 & State PSC Exams 3rd Edition

Publisher: Disha Publication

Author: Disha Experts

ISBN: 9789355641052

Language: ENGLISH

Binding Type: Paperback

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Decoding the Ethics Paper in UPSC Mains: A Comprehensive Guide

Of all the papers in the UPSC Mains examination, Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude is surely one of the most special and challenging papers to write. Unlike most of the other papers, this one doesn’t just test knowledge; it evaluates a civil servant’s moral compass, decision-making skills, and grasp of intricate situations during moral dilemmas. This paper, if carried out correctly, can be a game-changer in securing good marks since it will ensure you can make room for the deployment of private values and ethics. Let’s break down what this paper is all about and how you can be prepared for this effectively. 1. Understanding of the Syllabus and Structure But before dwelling on the preparation, one needs to first know what exactly is the Ethics paper. Known officially as General Studies Paper IV, this paper has two sections: Section A: Theoretical Questions; and Section B: Case Studies. It covers issues like ethics in public administration, emotional intelligence, probity in governance, and moral thinkers from India and the world. Your ability in handling ethical dilemmas both in public and private life aspires to be assessed through the paper. Key Tip: Ensure that you understand the syllabus very clearly. Break it down further into smaller topics and take up each topic systematically. 2. Develop a Strong Foundation in Ethical Concepts In respect to the theoretical questions in Section A, you need to have fundamental ideas of ethics. This includes knowing the differences between ethics, morals, values, and principles. You should also know key terms like integrity, accountability, empathy, and compassion, and how they are applied in public administration. Resource Tip: Books such as “Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude” by Chronicle and “Ethics in Governance” reports by the Second ARC are good resources to build a strong foundation. 3. Integrate Ethical Thinkers and Philosophies Another important feature of the Ethics paper is its thrust on moral thinkers and philosophers, Indian and global. Understanding the views of these personalities and how they apply to contemporary issues is called for. For instance, how can the Gandhian principle of non-violence be applied to modern conflicts? Or how is one expected to be guided by Kantian ethics in decision-making in public administration? Study Tip: It is not about memorization of quotes or ideas, but it means understanding how such philosophies can be applied in real-life situations. This can only be achieved by a proper analysis and deeper understanding of the subject matter, and this enables one to answer questions in a more refined and incisive manner. 4. Master the Art of Writing Answers This in itself sets the Ethics paper apart from all other papers. Not only the matter you know, but how you present your thoughts, is important. Your answers should clearly bring about clarity of thought, ethical reasoning, and ability to make sound judgments. Be Structured: The answer should start with a clear introduction, follow up with the main body where you present your arguments, and end thoughtfully. Use Examples: Examples from life or hypothetical scenarios add weight to your answers. You will only be able to add more relevance if you relate your answers to issues relevant today. Be True to Thyself: Authenticity goes a long way. Your answers should be those with which you agree genuinely, those which reflect what you stand for. Not a single answer should be a textbook answer; examiners are very good at filtering those. Resource Tip: Practicing questions from the previous year and writing mock answers regularly can help you in developing your answer writing skills. Websites like InsightsonIndia and ForumIAS give you useful practice resources. 5. Case Studies Must Be Viewed from a Problem-Solving Attitude Section B, the case studies, is where the real meat of the Ethics paper can be found. These are scenarios taken from real life, posing dilemmas that put demands on your ethical decision-making. The key is to think like a public servant: What’s the most ethical and practical solution? Identify the Ethical Dilemma: First, clearly identify what the ethical issues are in the case study. Consider the Stakeholders: Who are the parties involved? What are their interests and concerns? Weigh Choices: Write out the alternatives and their pros and their cons vis-à-vis ethics. Choose a Solution Which Satisfies the Golden Means: Your answer should be ethically correct as well as practically feasible. Support your answer with reasons. Study Tip: Practice all types of case studies mainly in public administration, governance and social issues. Go through previous UPSC case studies and see the pattern and the level of analysis required. 6. Keep Yourself Informed about Current Affairs Public administration ethics is intricately linked to contemporary happenings. Keep yourself updated with recent news, particularly information about corruption, issues in governance, and public service. This shall help you give relevant examples in your answers and case studies. Resource Tip: Reading newspapers like The Hindu and magazines like Yojana regularly will keep you updated with the latest on ethics and governance. 7. Personal Reflection and Self–Assessment Finally, the Ethics paper is a paper as much about self-reflection as it is about knowledge. Consider your values and principles. Consider the many past experiences which have cumulatively combined to inform your notion of ethics. To some extent, being more introspective will allow one to write more sincere and incisive answers. Study Tip: Spare some time each week to reflect upon the ethical dilemmas you have gone through in your life, and how you managed to resolve those. This will help a lot in dealing with case studies by adding a touch of your own personality.

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How to learn Interpersonal Skills Including Communication Skills for CSAT

Last updated on September 29, 2023 by Alex Andrews George

Interpersonal Skills is a topic for CSAT (General Studies Paper 2 – Civil Service Prelims Exam) .

But candidates who appear for Preliminary Exam, often seem to be unaware of this topic.

Before getting into the details of Interpersonal Skills, let’s analyze the syllabus for Civil Service Prelims Paper 2.

Table of Contents

Syllabus for Civil Service Prelims Paper 2

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. -Class X level)

How to learn Interpersonal skills including communication skills?

So, it is clear from the UPSC syllabus that there is a separate topic called Interpersonal Skills . Let’s have a quick look at what are the interpersonal skills a person needs to have.

Interpersonal skills:

Interpersonal Skills are also known by the names of soft skills or people skills. These are skills which you need while you deal with people, for better and healthy results. A master of interpersonal skills knows how to deal with different people during different situations.

Basic Interpersonal skills can be briefed below

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• Communication Skills
• Listening Skills
• Stress Management
• Assertiveness
• Decision Making
• Problem-Solving
• Verbal Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication

Question 1:

You are part of a team working on a critical project, and two of your team members, Arun and Sarah, have been having frequent disagreements that are affecting the project’s progress. How would you approach resolving this conflict?

• A) Avoid intervening and let them sort it out themselves.
• B) Speak to your supervisor and ask them to handle the conflict.
• C) Initiate a private meeting with Arun and Sarah to facilitate open communication and seek a mutually agreeable solution.
• D) Side with one team member to end the conflict quickly.

Correct Answer: C) Initiate a private meeting with Arun and Sarah to facilitate open communication and seek a mutually agreeable solution.

Question 2:

You are attending a professional conference, and you want to expand your network and make meaningful connections. What strategies would you employ to effectively network at the conference?

• A) Avoid engaging in conversations and focus solely on attending sessions.
• B) Share your business card with everyone you meet, whether or not there is a connection.
• C) Set clear networking goals, actively listen to others, exchange contact information, and follow up after the conference.
• D) Attend the conference but keep to yourself and not interact with other attendees.

Correct Answer: C) Set clear networking goals, actively listen to others, exchange contact information, and follow up after the conference.

Question 3:

You are working on a team project, and one of your team members, Maria, has a different approach to problem-solving that often leads to longer discussions and delays. How would you demonstrate tolerance in this situation?

• A) Insist that Maria adopts your approach to problem-solving for the sake of efficiency.
• B) Speak to the team leader and request Maria’s removal from the project.
• C) Practice open and respectful communication with Maria, seek compromise and show patience with differing work styles.
• D) Avoid working with Maria altogether to prevent conflicts.

Correct Answer: C) Practice open and respectful communication with Maria, seek compromise, and show patience with differing work styles.

These multiple-choice questions assess your understanding and application of interpersonal skills in various scenarios, including conflict resolution, networking, and tolerance.

Interpersonal skills including communication skills and UPSC

Those who expected Sentence Correction, Fill up the blank – grammar/language questions or Para-jumbles as there is a term called ‘communication skill’ in the syllabus – were disappointed by UPSC, by not asking any questions from these areas at all. There were no questions in the Interpersonal skills section, but questions came coupled with decision-making and problem-solving – as you can see these two are also an inseparable part of Interpersonal skills.

Having said that, it doesn’t mean UPSC will stick to the same type of questions in the future too. They can go for language skill-testing questions, but that may put students from rural backgrounds at a disadvantage, and that’s probably the main reason why UPSC has not tried those areas directly in the question paper.

As of now for solving the Decision-making and problem-solving section, the best answer is often derived by using interpersonal skills too, and that’s what UPSC expects from future Civil Servants.

How to study Interpersonal Skills for CSAT?

We recommend the below sources to learn the subject.

• Join CSAT Course: UPSC Prelims Paper 2 Program
• Go through  ClearIAS YouTube Classes on CSAT.
• Read  books on CSAT .

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About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and social entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training , Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped many aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

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March 13, 2019 at 4:16 pm

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